Shortwave Radiogram, for the next two weekends

This email will provide information on the broadcasts for the next two weekends (47 and 48)

A special broadcast of Program 48 will be a demonstration of Shortwave Radiogram for the meeting of the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters (NASB), this year hosted by SonSet Solutions in Elkhart, Indiana.

Reception of Shortwave Radiogram will be on a SonSet radio, an inexpensive receiver designed for use in developing countries. Using an antenna on the roof of the steel warehouse building, replete with electronic equipment in operation, the signal will somehow be fed to the SonSet radio, and the modes will be decoded from what is received. What could possibly go wrong?

If for some reason an adequate signal does not reach the SonSet radio, Plan B will be to use audio on an mp3 recorded from program 47, using an SDR somewhere. For this reason, programs 47 and 48 have similar formats, but the content is different.

Both shows will include slow modes, suitable for poor reception, such as on low-cost radios inside a steel building. And there will be some text in non-Latin alphabets.

For logistics reasons, the first transmission of program 48 will be moved up to 0800 UTC on 14 May. To compensate for program 47 being bumped from the 0800 slot, program 47 will be broadcast at 0800 on 21 May. See this schedule chart …

*Special for the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters meeting in Elkhart, Indiana, 17 May at 2030 UTC. The transmission on 16 May at 2100 UTC is to test the receiving and decoding equipment and software. Listeners everywhere are invited to tune in to one or both of these transmissions.

Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 47, 11-13 and 21 May 2018, in modes as noted:

Last weekend’s Shortwave Radiogram, program 46, experienced ups and downs of propagation. The Friday 2030-2100 UTC transmission continues to be difficult to hear most places in the world, and even most places in the USA.

The Throb2 “surprise mode” saw errors in many places where the MFSK modes had no trouble. It’s a reminder of why we don’t use Throb more often, although ThrobX might be worth a try in a future broadcast.

You can see results from program 46 at https://twitter.com/swradiogram . Roger’s analysis of last weekend’s Shortwave Radiogram, as well as IBC and KBC, is available here.
And here are videos …

The Mighty KBC transmits to Europe Saturdays at 1500-1600 UTC on 9400 kHz (via Bulgaria), with the minute of MFSK at about 1530 UTC (if you are outside of Europe, listen via websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/ ). And to North America Sundays at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 8-10 pm EDT) on new 9925 kHz, via Germany. The minute of MFSK is at about 0130 UTC. Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com . See also http://www.kbcradio.eu/ and https://www.facebook.com/TheMightyKbc/.

Italian Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) Five minutes of MFSK32 is at the end of the 30-minute English-language “Shortwave Panorama For the complete IBC transmission schedule visit http://ibcradio.webs.com/

Broad Spectrum Radio is transmitted by WRMI Florida Mondays at 0700-0800 UTC on 5850 and 7730 kHz. MFSK32 is broadcast during the second half hour of the show (although it was not heard last weekend). Reports to broadspectrumradio@gmail.com.